Deep Layer

The scene was deathly silent; a falling needle could have been heard.

The Constable Chief strode over with a grim expression.

His name was Tang Yunlong. He was around forty, with a square face and a pair of eyes sharp enough to seem capable of piercing flesh.

The authority he had cultivated over years in a high-ranking position at the Patrol Office made even the surrounding air seem heavier.

"Little brother, there's no need to be nervous."

Tang Yunlong's voice was low. Though he sounded reassuring, it carried an undeniable oppressive force.

"The blood energy refined through Red Moon Nunnery's sinister methods bears very obvious chaotic fluctuations. Just hold out your hand and let me examine you, and your innocence will be proven."

"Fine."

Chen Cheng remained as calm as ever and directly held out his hand.

Whether he had used sinister methods or not, he himself knew best.

As for the Moon Breath of Avici he had mastered last night, it was itself a sinister art specialized in concealment. There was no way outsiders could detect it.

The only definite trace it had left in Chen Cheng's body was damage to his heart and lungs.

But that had already been completely healed and restored by the Health Preservation trait.

Even Chen Cheng himself could not sense the slightest abnormality, much less anyone else.

Seeing Chen Cheng act so openly, Tang Yunlong's suspicions diminished considerably. He extended three rough, powerful fingers and steadily settled them on Chen Cheng's wrist pulse.

This was completely different from the bone-feeling methods Fatty Fang and Zhuang Zhuang had used earlier.

It was as though three streams of air flowed from Tang Yunlong's fingertips, wandering into Chen Cheng's meridians. They probed deeper, moved more steadily, carried greater penetrating force, and were also faster.

In merely two or three breaths, Tang Yunlong had already withdrawn his hand.

For a moment, everyone's gaze focused on him.

A faint, imperceptible cold smile curled at Xiao Yi's lips.

Before today, his attitude toward Chen Cheng had been one of utter disdain. He had thought Chen Cheng was not even worthy of making him personally step in to put him in his place.

But today, he had already regarded Chen Cheng as a potential threat. Given the chance, he was determined to suppress him.

His calculations were perfectly clear.

If Chen Cheng had truly used Red Moon Nunnery's methods, Tang Yunlong would seize him on the spot.

Conversely, even if Chen Cheng was innocent, if Tang Yunlong detected that he had the lowest of the low-grade bones, his treatment when taking an outside post in the future would be far worse. That would likewise directly weaken Chen Cheng.

That was precisely why Xiao Yi would be pleased no matter which outcome came to pass.

Nearby.

Liang Guang hunched his neck, racking his brains over how to swiftly and cleanly sever all ties with Chen Cheng.

Chu Meng, Zhu Mingyuan, and Ye Qiluo all stared fixedly at Chen Cheng without prior agreement.

If Chen Cheng had committed some other offense, the three might have stepped in to smooth things over and preserve Dragon Mountain Hall's dignity.

But if Chen Cheng was truly connected to Red Moon Nunnery, then he would be one of the evil cult's fiends the Imperial Government had explicitly ordered eradicated. The three would never dare shield him. On the contrary, they would have to cut ties with Chen Cheng as quickly as possible.

At the end of the day, no matter how powerful a Martial Hall was, it could never be stronger than the Imperial Government.

Otherwise, nearly all martial artists would not have made participating in the Martial Selection and striving to become Martial Guard Officers their goal.

"It was merely a misunderstanding."

Tang Yunlong slowly spoke. The last traces of suspicion vanished completely from his gaze toward Chen Cheng, replaced by a hint of surprise, even appreciation.

"This little brother's blood energy is abundant and solid. Its circulation is perfectly harmonious and stable, faintly carrying the balance of yin and yang, the mutual aid of rigid and soft... There is not the slightest sign of sinister, uncanny, impure, chaotic blood energy."

Tang Yunlong paused, then emphasized his words.

"I, Tang, can state with certainty that this little brother has nothing to do with Red Moon Nunnery's sinister arts!"

After saying this, Tang Yunlong glanced slightly sideways and gave Xiao Yi an indifferent look.

"Furthermore, this little brother's bones are not as poor as you claimed..."

"Certainly, if ordinary bone-feeling methods are used to examine him, he may indeed appear to possess the lowest of the low-grade bones. But with my Tang family's inherited method, one can glimpse deeper details."

"His bones... or rather, his physique, are nearly clear and spotless, like that of a newborn infant... Perhaps even healthier and cleaner than an infant's."

Tang Yunlong paused, then said solemnly.

"On the path of martial arts, the quality of one's bones is certainly important. But temperament and diligence, comprehension and physique, are all foundations of martial arts as well. There are precedents for suddenly opening one's understanding and breaking through an entire realm."

With those words, Tang Yunlong had not only proven Chen Cheng's innocence, but had also provided a well-founded explanation for why Chen Cheng could condense blood energy repeatedly within such a short time.

The expression on Xiao Yi's face instantly froze. That trace of smugness shattered completely, leaving only flustered embarrassment as his complexion shifted from green to white.

The frozen atmosphere in the room seemed to have been abruptly struck open by those words, a crack splitting through it.

The gazes that had once been like sharp arrows immediately softened, even taking on a hint of reevaluation and an intent to build ties.

"Oh! Junior Brother Chen! Look at the mess this has become... A misunderstanding! A huge misunderstanding!"

Xiao Yi truly had his own exceptional qualities. In an instant, he put on a remorseful yet earnest expression, stepped half a pace forward, clasped his hands, and bowed.

"It's all this senior brother's fault. I spoke too bluntly in the heat of the moment and nearly caused you great trouble... But this senior brother truly didn't know your exact circumstances, did I?"

"Everyone in Middle Academy said your bones were the lowest of the low-grade. It wasn't as though this senior brother deliberately fabricated things to frame you. Isn't that right?"

Xiao Yi's face was full of sincerity as he bowed even deeper.

"Here, before all these distinguished guests, this senior brother sincerely apologizes to you. I hope Junior Brother Chen will be magnanimous and not take it to heart."

"You overstate it, Senior Brother."

Chen Cheng's expression remained unchanged. Only, seemingly by chance, his eyelids lowered slightly, completely concealing the faint chill deep in his eyes as he said evenly.

"It was only a small misunderstanding. The Constable Chief has already helped clarify matters, so naturally I won't take it to heart."

"Junior Brother Chen is truly magnanimous!"

Xiao Yi straightened and said with a cheerful smile.

"Junior Brother, if you aren't interested in taking an outside post with the Patrol Office, this senior brother can introduce you to a good place. I can get a monthly salary of six taels of silver there..."

"There's no need for Senior Brother to trouble himself."

Before Xiao Yi could finish, Chen Cheng rejected him cleanly and decisively.

The disciples around them who were seeking opportunities for outside posts, however, could not suppress the envy spilling onto their faces.

An outside post was ultimately only a side job. For ordinary martial artists who had condensed two sticks of blood energy, their monthly salary was generally around three taels of silver. Six taels... even in a full-time position, they might not earn that much.

Everyone understood that Xiao Yi could receive such an amount largely because the halo of an Inner Hall genius was at work.

The extra money paid by the Proprietor behind him was, in truth, a wager on his future.

Ordinary Outer Hall disciples could only envy and resent him.

"Eldest Senior Brother."

Chen Cheng turned and walked toward the other side, speaking seriously.

"I already have an outside post, and I have entered into a gentleman's agreement with the Proprietor. I'll take my leave first."

"Go."

Chu Meng said nothing more. After Chen Cheng left, he merely exchanged glances with Zhu Mingyuan and Ye Qiluo from the corner of his eye.

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